Say Her Name (Neteyam x OC)

❝𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟼 - 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜❞ ✧ ೃ༄

I woke up to someone knocking on the door. Rubbing my eyes, I realized I had slept in.

"Come in" I said, my voice hoarse and my throat dry.
To my surprise I saw Neteyam and Tsireya enter. I was happy to see their faces.

"Yui'Ki, were you still sleeping?" Tsireya asked surprised.
"Why? what time is it?" I asked and noticed my sense of time was completely messed up. It was a rough day yesterday after all.
"It's noon" Neteyam answered, seemingly unsure of whether he should be concerned about that fact or not.

"It's good you took a rest. I'm sure your body really needed it" Tsireya answered with her usual bright smile before Tonowari's voice echoed from afar.
"Tsireya! Aonung!"
She sighed.
"I'm sorry I have to leave you here. I'll see you guys later" She said with a sad smile.

When I realized Neteyam and me were alone, I quickly stood up, noticing I was still laying there with my bed head.
Suddenly pain coursed through my head.
I immediately pressed my fingers on my pulsating temples.

Neteyam grabbed my shoulders to steady me.
"Slow, sit back down" He said, concerned.
"I'm fine" I said, flustered by the sudden touch, avoiding eye contact.

I was already in pain, I didn't want to handle my body acting up now too.

"How do you feel?"
"I'm fine really" I answered, trying to hide my face which was probably unnaturally red by now.
"Maybe you should avoid going in the water for now. What if it happens again?" He asked me with a glimpse of concern in his eyes.

"I think it happened because of the Tsaheylu with the spirit tree.
If anything, I have to avoid bonding for now" I said nervously as he nodded in agreement.

I felt something weird, watching him listen so intently to me. As if he was trying to memorize every word I said.

Everytime I talked to him, his eyes flickered from one eye to another, every now and then to my lips.

Suddenly an ear deafening horn was blown. We looked at each other in surprise before laughing.
It was so sudden that it scared me shitless.
We walked outside, Neteyam kept a hand on my back to support me.

"Everybody, our brother and sisters have returned!" Tsireya shouted, waving everyone into the water.

I stood in the doorframe and watched the impressively big tulkuns jump out and dive back into the blue water with a great force.
Cold water splashed everywhere.
As I heard the beautiful noises our huge friends made, I felt my heart skip a beat in glee

"Come on!" I told Neteyam, taking his hand. I made a clicking sound with my tongue, alerting my ilu which was quickly ready for us, waiting.

Neteyam jumped onto the ilu, I followed and sat behind him.
We dove into the deep blue water, passing other fascinated people.
Watching those huge balls of joy flip and turn in the water made me forget every worry in the world.

While dedicating my attention to the tulkuns, I felt myself slip. Before I could glide off the ilu, I felt Neteyam grab my thigh pushing me closer to him.
I felt tingles all over my body.

His hands were so big they covered almost my whole thigh.

Grabbing onto his thin waist to steady myself, I felt the warmth of his body.
I could really feel he was active by his waist. It wasn't exactly soft.

We passed through the maze of the many majestic tulkuns, most of them greeting us kindly.
I recognized some of my brothers and sisters. I just felt relieved to know they came back safe and sound.

They were some of the small group of creatures or people who saw more in me than my damn hair.

Since the vision, though, I realized something I hadn't even thought of before.

My great grandmother, she was really beautiful.
When I first saw her, I didn't think of her hair as something weird or demonic, if anything it made her look very special.

Imagining a crowd full of black heads and one white head stuck out, that's about how she looked. Literally.
In a good way that is.

But me? I didn't understand why I couldn't see what I saw in her in the reflection of the water.

I felt a tap on my thigh as Neteyam looked at me concerned. He gestured with his one hand a "Are you okay?", making sure not to let go off the ilu.
I then noticed I must've been zoning out for a few minutes.

I nodded at his question.

That's when I noticed a familiar face. It was Notei'a, my big sister. Ever since I was little she'd look after me like I was her cub.
I felt a strong connection to her. Quickly, I pointed at Notei'a, grabbing Neteyams attention.

We came to a halt next to her. Wasting no time, I clung to her like I was actually her cub.
I stroked her big head as she exclaimed in joy. Neteyam joined me.

"Who is this boy?" She asked me. I looked at Neteyam, trying to figure out if he understood Notei'as words. Although, I was pretty sure he didn't by the look on his face.

I turned my back on Neteyam. "Isn't he the cutest?" Notei'a laughed in response. Seriously. Isn't he though?

Neteyam and me decided to return to the others. He had asked me what I talked about with Notei'a but I refused to tell him of course.

I felt myself mourning over someone who was sitting just beside me.

The fact that Neteyam was a good friend to me and not more frustrated me. Having those feelings meant for me if he ever found out that'd be it.
Someone like him returning my feelings was as likely as a flying tulkun.

Point is, it was unlikely.

I could stay friends with Neteyam or say goodbye. I didn't like either option.

What I did know for sure though, is that I had to tell him.

"You seem out of it today, Yui'Ki. What's up with you?" Neteyam asked.

"I have to tell you something."